Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-11-26
A FIENDlSH ACT.
STRIPPED NAKED WHILE HER
HUSBAND is HUNG,
The True story by An Eye Witness
Mrs. Parsons and Her Children
Denied n Parting Word
with Husband aud
Father.

Lizzie NJ. Swank, who was with
poor Mrs, Parsons on the day of her
husbands murder, tells the follow
ing story of their treatment by
"American PATRIOTS:
1t will be remembered that among
the more thrilling accounts contained
in the dallics on Friday, n casual
notice of Mrs. Parsons arrest "for
persistent disobediencc of orders, )"
and that of a lady friend "for har-
ranguing the people, was given.
The officers were reported as very
courteous and GENTLE and "the
ladies were given arm chairs in the
registry Office, merely to keep them
away from the crowd and prevent
trouble"
This is the true story;
On Thursday evening, after the
governors tardy decision had been
given, Mrs. Parsons accompanied by
Mr.. Holmes and myself, went to the
ail to plead for n Fast sad interview
with her husband. She was denied
an entrance, but was told by the
deputy sheriff in charge that she
would be admitted at half-past eight
on the following morning. At that
time, she, with her children and
myself, was promptly rs near to the
gates as the police would permit.
| I've Y street for two blocks away
leading toward the jail was crossed
by a rope and guarded by q line of
police ar ned with Winchester rifles.
At the first corner Mrs. Parsons
quietly made known her errand.
The lieutenant sent her on to the
next corner, saying some one there
had power to grant her request. We
passed on and were again told to 90
TO the next corner, and so on, from
one street to another we were urged
along for one whole hour. Some
times it was the drputy-sherif who
was to be found ut II certain corner,
sometimes some captain, endowed
with extraordinary powers, some
times it was the popularity of loca-
ton that promised an entrance be-
yond the death line; but it was al
ways "not this corner but some 9th
or corner" Not once did al officer
say, "You positively cannot see your
husband. You are forbidden to en-
Ter his prison to bid him farewell.
Meanwhile the precious moments
were flying; sweet little LuIu's face
was blue with cold, and her beautl-
fnI eyes were swimming III tears.
Manly little Albert too was shivcrine
in the raw atmosphere, while he pa.
tiontly followed his gref-stricken
mother from one war-llke street to
another. She besought the officers
only to take the children in for one
goodbye kiss from their brave father,
that his memory might never be
elraced from their young minds; they
needed her not, excepting to hurry
her along.
The last sad moments of her deal
ones life were wasting steadily, sc
relentlessly. Who can picture hel
agony? Who can wonder at he
desperate protest against the "regu
lations of law which were KILN!
her husband and forbidding her ap
proach? She determinedly crossed
the dead line and told them "to xii
her as they were numbering her hus
band" No, they were not so merci
fui; they dragged her outside, in.
veigled her around to a quiet corne
with promises of Seeing about it,
and there ordered her, her two chill
drcn and myself into a patrol Wagon
awaiting US. What had the limo
cent children done? Pleaded dumb
ly, with soft, fearful eyes, for thei
father. What was my crime
Faithfulness to a sorrowing sister
Once, when some one had asket
| me if | could not "prevail on tina